Leniency Works

The New York Times is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/02/international/europe/02FINL.html">running a story</a> on the success of the Finnish prison system in reducing the prison population (which is now the lowest in the EU per capita) through a novel approach: leniency.

Far from being 'tough on crime', the Finns' attitude seems to be one long proposed by more liberal elements, and is in keeping with the Scandinavian propensity toward socialist principles.

In contrast to the stance by various parties in the US to strip prisoners of even more things deemed 'luxuries' (education, libraries, TV, etc.) the relaxed atmosphere in Finnish prison actually seems to work, even with drug prohibition.

Could something like this possibly work in the US, or is it more the logical extension if the more, for lack of a better word, humane Scandinavian culture? A socialist model in parallel with the politics of the country the issue is about?

Amazing, is all I can say. It would never work in the US, however, at the present time. The Finnish model is taylor made for a socialist country, and the US just has too much crime being perpetrated <i>due</i> in part to of a lack of meaningful social programs. Leniency won't solve those base problems here.

Originally posted by Coriolis Amazing, is all I can say. It would never work in the US, however, at the present time. The Finnish model is taylor made for a socialist country, and the US just has too much crime being perpetrated <i>due</i> in part to of a lack of meaningful social programs. Leniency won't solve those base problems here.

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I would infer that you are talking about social programs that teach people respect for the rights and property of others.

If the statistics are correct and crime is down in Finland, then I would concur that it is their socialist society in conjunction with this system seems to work for them...well that along with the fact that crime victims are compensated by the government. Of course, the article also alludes to possible trouble on the horizon for this program also:

Finland's chief worry now is the rise in drug-related crimes that do result in prison sentences and the growing number of Russians and Estonians, who Mr. Lappi-Seppala said were introducing organized-crime activities into Finland.